BIOGRAPHY: Martin Hoffman; New York co., NY
surname: Hoffman, Roberts

submitted by Elizabeth Burns (burns at asu.edu) 
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Submitted Date: May 31,2005
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Author: Walter Barrett

MARTIN HOFFMAN
Page 52

"The Old Merchants"
By Walter Barrett, Clerk
Pub:Thomas R. Knox and Co. 1885 NY


Martin Hoffman, who was a great auctioneer in his day, and was the father of 
L.M. Hoffman who died a few days ago.  Martin Hoffman was a great merchant 
once. He was of the house of Hoffman and Seton, auctioneers. Old Hoffman 
married a Miss Seton.  Martin Hoffman, flourished just after the Revolution 
and was the father of several children, among them Lindley Murray and Martin, 
I remember very well.  There was a daughter, Sarah.  I think she married a 
Roberts; she was born in 1783.  L.M. Hoffman was born in 1793. He had an elder 
brother named Daniel M. and another named Martin.

Martin was a public spirited man and took an interest in everything that was 
going on in New York then.  He made three of his children Tontine 
stockholders.  Martin Hoffman was in everything. He belonged to a fire company 
in 1791. In 1792 he was a Sachem of Tammany Hall and in business on his own 
account at No. 67 Water Street that year.  He was captain in the First 
Regiment of Infantry, 1792.  He was Master of St. Andrew's Lodge. In 795 he 
founded the auction and commission house of Hoffman and Seton; the store was 
at No. 67 Wall Street.  His partner was a son of William Seton, cashier of the 
Bank of New York.

In 1808 Mr. Hoffman took in a Mr. Glass as a partner and did the same business 
at 67 Wall Street under the firm of Hoffman and Glass.  That concern continued 
in business under that style until 1822 when they took in L.M. Hoffman, a 
partner and added a Co. to it. Old Mr. Hoffman lived up Broadway nears Jones 
Street.

In 1823 Mr. Hoffman took in his son L.M. and a Mr. Pell and the firm was 
Hoffman, Son & Pell at No. 65 Wall Street. The other son, Martin, did an 
auction business on the corner of Wall and Pearl but lived with his father, 
while L.M. was keeping house at No. 113 Grand Street. In 1826 both of these 
sons joined their father, and kept on the auction business at No. 63 Wall 
Street under the firm of M. Hoffman and Sons.

I think the old gentleman, Mr. Hoffman died in 1827. He was buried from No. 
691 Broadway, but the firm was not changed for some years or until the law was 
passed to the effect that no name should be used in a firm, unless it really 
was in it.  In 1834, the firm changed to L.M. Hoffman and Company--Martin 
being the Company and they moved from the old store near Pearl down to No. 83 
Wall.  Some years later they moved to No. 111 Pearl in Hanover Square and this 
firm has not changed but was there down to 1861.  Martin, the brother of L.M. 
died some years ago at Maranonick and I think young L.M. Jr. was in the dry 
goods business.  Now these younger ones, grandsons of the famous Martin of 
1790 still keep up the old business.